A week of milestones and parties!

Last week, Luke reached 3 new milestones! He learned how to crawl, pull himself up on things to stand, and clap his hands! He also bobs his head side to side which is the cutest thing ever, but I don't think that counts as an official milestone. This must be due to something in the Texas air! We've been in Texas for the last 2 1/2 weeks and Luke's just been getting busy on growing up! It's been so fun to hang out with my family and friends from Texas. We've done so many fun things like fishing, singing with my dad's band at Ace Hardware's parking lot dance and BBQ, watching fireworks, going to the fourth of July parade, swimming in the pool, and getting hunter ready and sending him off on his mission! I also got to visit some of my best friends, who I haven't seen in ages! It was so fun catching up with Kelsie, Chad, Laura, Sammy, Rachel ,and Caitlin. They are all turning into amazing people and doing great things with their lives! I'm so glad I've been able to stay in touch with them all.



Mad man Jeff ripping it up on the keyboard



Me, Laura, Susan, and my mom singing Pontoon



Rick made the BEST brisket EVER!



Luke on the prowl with his new crawling skills

Brando also caught a large mouth bass

Brando catching a catfish in the creek behind our house

new outfit from grandma

eating plenty of chocolate at grandma's

4th of July parade

My first half-marathon!

This last Saturday, I ran my first half marathon with my sister in law Brittany! I have trained for one before, but got a stress fracture a month before! The whole experience was so much fun- I'd have to say it started from the training. It was so much fun running with Brittany and getting caught up with her and also having some time to "relax" without having to worry about Luke. I also loved enjoying the warmth and sun rays of the outdoors!

 The night before the race was an event in itself. Brandon and I went to Pizza Factory, where I carbo loaded BIG time- then went to pick up my packet, where it was fun to see all of the racers and eat free samples. Then I went to my in-laws where I added a whole new play list of music for my run. My iPod hadn't been updated for like 3 years, so this was a real treat. lol That night, Brandon sent me to bed at 9:00 and took care of Luke since I had to be up by 4:45 to make the bus ride. It was like Christmas Eve- I didn't fall asleep until midnight and then woke up every 30 minutes, thinking I had slept in!

Although I probably got about 2 hours of quality sleep that night, I was bright eyed and bushy tailed the next morning! My energy escalated when I got to the buses and saw the hundreds of people all anxious and excited to run this race!  When we got to the start line, Brittany and I went to the very front of the group so that we wouldn't get caught in the crowd and start 10 minutes later. The guy in charge called us out on the megaphone and said "It looks like we've got a couple people in the first 5 rows that shouldn't be there!" How rude!! We just moved over to the side once it started to let all the hard core people pass us. unfortunately this move caused a pain in my foot from running on the curved side of the road that later turned out to be a stress fracture :( I thought I was totally screwed when I first felt it, but pushed through and after like 5 minutes the pain went away. The first 7 miles were in the Provo canyon and it was beautiful! That part of the race went by so fast- too fast! I wanted this race to last forever- I felt like a 5 year old on a trip to Disney World. It was so fun too see my family for the last part of the race- it was so nice of them to drive all around Provo to see us for literally 5 seconds! I had tons of energy throughout the entire race, but the last half mile, I started to feel the pain in my foot again. Luckily I could see the finish line, and knew that I was going to make it. We sprinted at the very end and as soon as I crossed the finish line I could barely walk on my leg! I was so so so grateful that I was able to finish AND at the fastest pace we've ever run at! Our 2 goals in this race were to finish in under 2 hours and to beat this girl who looked like one of my old roommates, and we did both of them! Our final time was 1:48:10!! We ran at an 8:15 pace.

I was a little disappointed in the after party. The last race I attended, there was a tons of vendors giving out free food and legit SWAG, but all we got was nasty fruit, a single piece of french toast, and chocolate milk in tiny sample cups. The website advertised it as a huge cinco de mayo party with free Magleby's breakfast, fresh fruit, and delicious chocolate milk. What a freakin let down! That was seriously half of why I wanted to do a half marathon... lol So we went to Magleby's restaurant instead for some REAL food! 

That about sums up my half-marathon experience! I would LOVE to do that again! 



Sleep training: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

After two previously failed attempts, I am proud to annouce that Luke finally sleeps through the night in his own crib!!!!! I seriously feel like I've just won the lottery! The first two times we tried to get Luke to sleep in his crib, he hated us for like a month and would wake up like every 30 minutes so, I caved in and let him sleep in our bed. I thought maybe sleep training wasn't Luke's thing, and that I could get away letting him sleep with me for the first year. But as I starting thinking some not-so-nice words in my head after waking up for the 5th time to Luke screaming in the middle of the night (I promise I normally do not think of cuss words like this!) I knew had to give it one more try! It took about 5 days to work, and I almost caved in everynight of it! I hate the concept of crying yourself to sleep- I'd much rather him fall asleep in the security of his mom's arms. I was also afraid that Luke wouldn't trust me or feel loved anymore and get baby depression, but with the moral support of some of my best friends and family, I made it through!! Now Luke sleeps from 10pm-9am and is a happier baby because of it! I also get some time to relax and do whatever I want at night without entertaining a tired fussy baby! I appreciate and take full advantage of the time I have to spend with him during the day now, and have so much more energy! Life is good :)

Time flies when you're having fun!

This weekend consisted of a few events that really made me feel like time was on fast forward! Friday, March. 23, Luke turned 6 months old! It seems like every time I blink, he's growing bigger, reaching a new milestone, and developing more and more personality! Luke is getting so tall, but pretty skinny. He fits into 12 month old clothes length-wise, but they fit totally baggy in the width! He's super talkative right now- he says mama over and over and makes these Donald Duck noises- probably from all that Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! He can sit up on his own until he decides he wants a bite of his toes, and tips over in the process. He smiles and laughs on demand when you say words that rhyme with "poopie"- haha real mature of us! He loves getting little nibbles of what mom and dad are eating, and loves playing with all of his aunts and grandparents!

Also on Friday, Hunter opened his mission call! He's going to Veracruz, Mexico and leaves on July 5th! I'm so proud of his decision to serve the Lord for two years and for the good choices he's made that have made him the person he is today! Ladies, watch out in two years! He's a stud! Saturday, we had huevoes rancheros for breakfast and pork tacos for dinner to celebrate his call to Mexico!

Saturday, we went to the Spring scrimmage- unfortunately Brandon didn't play due to a broken foot :( But it was a beautiful day, and it got us all excited for the 2012 season!

Sunday, we took our first official family pictures! Brandon's sister Kenzie did an awesome job as our photographer! She nailed some shots that just put Brandon and Luke's relationship in a nutshell!



A think I'll go for a walk outside...

What a beautiful weekend! My goal was to spend as much time under warm sunshine as possible, and I think we succeeded! Saturday, me and my sister in law Brittany went on our first eight mile run! It's amazing how much easier it is to run when the weather is nice and you actually want to be outside- it went so much faster and was so much more enjoyable than our 7 miler in the cold last week! After our run, we headed to the rugby game, which was so much fun! I've never watched rugby before, but loved the fast pace and all of the different elements in the game- I couldn't decide if it was similar to football, soccer, wrestling, or cheer leading (haha I'm referring to that stunt they do when they throw in the ball)! After that we went to Texas Roadhouse with someone who helps players get ready for pro-ball! He wasn't allowed to pay or anything, so it's not as glamorous as it sounds lol If your going to splurge a little, Texas Roadhouse is the place to go- especially when you live in Utah! I'd take some good barbecue any day over a new outfit or going to a movie! Then we went to Yogurtland, my favorite place in the world right now! I can't eat ice cream or dairy, while nursing Luke, but for some reason frozen yogurt doesn't bother him, so I take every opportunity to pig out on that! Sunday, we went to church with Brandon's family because I sang with the rest of my sister-in-laws in their ward. We sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me". It was so fun to rehearse and perform with them! After church, we had our weekly Sunday dinner over at Brandon's parents house. I LOVE Sunday dinner over there! I don't think there's any comedian or funny movie out there that can give your smile muscles a better work out than Sunday dinner! It's really happiness at the highest level. Add delicious food, and it doesn't get any better! I'm so grateful that we have Brandon's family so close- they have been SO extremely helpful in our newly-wed/new parent lives! While I'm talking about them, I have to give a tribute to my mother-in-law! She really is the best! Lately she's been watching Luke for me almost every day while I go on my runs, so that I can be home when Brandon is done with school, and I can focus on dinner, and he can focus on homework instead of babysitting! I know that most new parents don't have that option, so we've been totally spoiled! She's always asking for ways she can help and has just been a life saver!

On a different note, Spring Ball has started! It's been fun to watch Brandon at the family practices- I also get to catch up with the wives, hangout with my in-laws, and get some more time outdoors! We're going to have an awesome team this year!

Luke and dad at practice!

I went running right before practice- thus my slicked back, nasty hair!

Luke just loves his Aunt Natalie!

Starting to sit up on his own!

I'm bloggin' ya'll!

I've neglected my motherly duty of being the family historian for way too long! Luke's 5 months old and I've got maybe 3 scrawny journal entries to show for it. Luckily, my sisters-in-law are on top of taking pictures, but I need start making a habit out of documenting all of our fun memories! To start off short and simple. here's a quick update on our family!
Brandon is currently in school for the winter semester and in off-season workouts for football. It's definitely been a more relaxing semester with free time on the weekends and a shorter practice schedule, although next week he starts spring ball!  He's also starting to look into law schools and getting ready for life after college!
I'm loving life as a mom right now! I'm discovering new ways everyday to make the job more exciting and fulfilling! I'm SO grateful that I'm able to be a stay-at-home mom with Luke so I get to be there for all of his milestones. The moments you experience everyday as a mother are seriously too good to be true. I'm also currently training for a half-marathon with my sister-in-law Brittany. It's been so fun to train for an event and also been SO good to get some girl talk in when we go running together! We're running the Thanksgiving Point half-marathon at the end of April.
Luke's growing up way too fast!!! He's currently trying to sit up on his own, eating and loving every kind of baby food, loves munching on his feet, loves to smile and laugh, loves reading animal books, singing songs, dancing with mom to the radio, watching cartoons, taking naps with mom, mastering acrobatics with dad, and playing in his jumper.

                                                              Luke eating his toes

                                                              Luke loves those peaches!

Watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse